16/11/2010 - BJJ (Advanced)

Class #360
RGA High Wycombe, (BJJ), Matt Burn, High Wycombe, UK - 16/11/2010

Those who read this blog at the main site rather than through Google Reader or Facebook may have noticed I've chopped up my header a bit. Hopefully (it looks ok in the browsers I checked, though personally I always use Firefox, so that's the best way to view the site), there is now a swish horizontal navigation menubar under the header, with menus that appear when you hover over the words. I followed the handy tutorial here, and will be playing around with it some more in the future, to see what happens. Let me know if the site now runs incredibly slow for you, or anything like that.

Matty kicked off the advanced class with a nifty choke from side control, using your gi lapel. You're in the classic side control position with an arm under the head. Open up your gi with your far hand: if possible, be sneaky and then hold the end of it your hand, so it is less obvious to your opponent. You can then have your hand by their far arm, where you're going to wait.

They will probably have their far arm into your throat. What you're waiting for is an opening to punch your hand inside that arm, then feed the gi lapel you were holding to your other hand, which is behind their hand. Get a firm grip: you may want to keep on feeding it further to make it even more secure. Cinch it tight to their neck, straightening the arm you have under their head.

Keeping your upper body low, walk your legs around towards their head, as if you were going to north south. At the same time, move your head towards their near hip: they will probably tap before you get there, but if not, keep going until you can put your head next to their hip. If the submission still isn't happening, make sure you're keeping your arm straight and pressed into their neck, so that your gi lapel digs into the other side of their neck.

Next, Matty went through a variation on the bow and arrow choke, off a grip break when attempting the kimura from north-south. As happens so often with the kimura from there, they've got a death grip on their belt, so you can't shift their arm despite having locked up the figure four. Changing tack, release the grip on your wrist and put your hand palm up.

With your other hand, grab the bottom of their gi and feed it to your first hand. Pull that in tight, bringing your hand back towards you arm and trapping their arm in the process. Get a grip on their collar with your free hand, then swivel to one side, bringing a leg over their shoulder and the other across their torso. From there, you can pull on the collar and push down with your legs to get the choke. Alternatively, you could try having your knee pressed into their head, but I find the leverage is better when you've got your legs over.

I was drilling in a three, so didn't actually get a chance to spar, because there was only time for two rounds (it was specific from side control again, so five minutes on top, five minutes on bottom). Not that I particularly minded, as it gave me a chance to scribble some notes down on my pad. Should be training against on Thursday, before heading up to Birmingham for the Christmas Market (my gf likes it, and it's always nice to get back in touch with one of my favourites things about being part-German: Aachener Printen. :D).

16/11/2010 - BJJ (Beginner)

Class #359
RGA High Wycombe, (BJJ), Matt Burn, High Wycombe, UK - 16/11/2010

I recently updated the summary of my training history in martial arts, mainly expanding the last paragraph into a new section covering 2009 up until today. So, if for some reason you want to know what I've been doing for the last eleven years, that summary should tell you everything you want to know (in regards to martial arts, at least).

Kev couldn't make it tonight, so Matty took the class (unfortunately shorn of his excellent Movember biker moustache, as apparently you aren't allowed those side bits in the fire service). After going through a double leg, Matty moved on to side control, beginning with an armbar. You're in a solid side control position, and you've somehow managed to get their far arm by your head, on the side nearest their legs: this could be because they're trying to escape an Americana, or perhaps they've tried to swim through for the underhook, and you've managed to block it.

Grab their arm a little below their elbow, using the arm that is nearest their legs. Pull them up onto their side, and make sure that your inside knee goes right into the armpit on their near side: this is important for later control, as otherwise they will find it much easier to block with their arm. Your other leg is based out, similar to how you'd arrange your legs in knee on belly.

With your free hand, push their head down. Step that based out leg over, putting the foot by their back, towards their hips. You can now swivel around to that side, grabbing their trouser leg, then drop back for the armbar (alternatively, you could sit on their head and go for the kimura from north-south). Ideally you want to keep hold of their leg, pulling them in tight so they can't try for the hitchhiker escape. It is possible to finish the armbar with one hand, but you may end up needing both hands (in which case make sure your body is angled towards their legs rather than their head, to help prevent their escape).

Matty then covered off the basic escape from side control, bridging into them and shrimping back to guard. He also noted that you could try swinging your legs right through and try for an armbar, though more as a distraction than a submission. That's something Chiu showed at Gracie Barra Birmingham when I was there, as it's a favourite attack of Braulio's.

Sparring was from side control, and for once I tried to put into practice what we'd just learned. On top, I pulled in the arm and went for the kimura from north south, but couldn't hold the position because I couldn't get that knee into the armpit. I was also looking for my favoured triangle position on top, but again couldn't quite work my leg through in order to lock it up and start to attack the far arm.

Underneath, I was going for the usual basic escape Matty had run through earlier. I almost recovered to guard a few times, and remembered to try stiff-arming into the shoulder and bicep, but didn't shrimp enough, so Howard was able to drive back through. I threw up a few triangle attempts from the bottom too, but wasn't able to attack the arm too well (although I think that may have been where I got some of those near-miss guard recoveries).

14/10/2010 - BJJ (Beginner)

Class #352
RGA High Wycombe, (BJJ), Matty Burn, High Wycombe, UK - 14/10/2010

I’ve mentioned Leslie’s blogroll over on BJJ Grrl before, but I haven’t made a concerted effort to go through for a while. I copied it over to Excel recently and then compared it against my blog index (still need to update it, but should be at least 100 extra blogs): loads I was missing, so lots more for me to read. So far, I particularly like Kirsch’s Korner, Family Mat-ters and Gi Funk. Speaking of bloggers, perhaps some of them will want to put their details on the blogger map, for future blogger training meet-ups. Either way, thanks Leslie! :D

Also, back when I posted up my review of Cindy Omatsu’s DVDs, a number of people mentioned they’d had trouble getting hold of that set, which originally came out in 2005. So, they might be interested to hear it is apparently back in stock at Budovideos, currently for about $57. Apparently only two left at the moment, but I’ve no idea if that’s a marketing thing or not.

Speaking of Budovideos, they are also running a live stream for the No Gi Worlds on the 7th November. However, unlike in 2009, this time it is pay per view: you can buy tickets here. Although it’s only $10, so still pretty good value, it is nevertheless a shame they weren’t able to keep it free. I guess after their trial run last year (along with the Worlds and Pan Ams this year), the advertising fees weren’t enough to cover all the costs.

Kev was working another night shift, so class was headed up by Mat Burn (which remains an awesome name for a BJJ instructor: yes, he gets that along, but the novelty hasn’t quite worn off for me yet! ;p). Matty went through a basic push-through triangle, shoving their hand into their stomach before going through the technique as normal.

To finish up, there was the same guard break as Tuesday (although Matty prefers to pull up on the sleeve, rather than shoving it into their hip to start with), then a leg pin pass. Here again Matty used a slightly variation, as instead of reaching around their leg to grab the collar, he instead switching the grip on their sleeve, meaning that you’re holding onto their arm rather than shoving your forearm into their throat.

Specific sparring was from guard, with one of my favourite training partners, Howard. My efforts at the twisting guard break and Colin’s pass weren’t particularly successful, but as Howard is a blue, he was much more likely to open his guard and attack than the white belts I was sparring on Tuesday. That meant I had a couple of opportunities to try and pass: I secured the double underhooks, but failed to get past. I think the problem there is that I’m not driving forward enough, and I should also pull their legs towards me to help stack them, as that gets their hips in the air.

Pushing their leg down and doing a big step over it, as per Kev’s private lesson, is starting to become more instinctive. That means I’m finding myself moving to half guard quicker than before, but with blue belts, they’re normally able to get that knee in the way (in what I think is called z-guard). The knee was frequently in the way, as Howard went for the scissor sweep a number of times: I’m sure there is some kind of pass where you shove that knee down and walk round, so something for me to work on.

Underneath, I wasn’t doing enough with half guard, and I still tend to end up on the wrong side with my upper body: I need to fight harder to get that underhook on the same side as the leg I’ve trapped. At one point in full guard, I found myself with a loose armbar, but wasn’t able to readjust or switch to anything. Looking for the triangle is becoming more natural, but I don’t yet feel confident switching to an omoplata or armbar, which is another thing I want to improve.

Things weren't too dissimilar when we moved on to the extra hour of free sparring (or half hour, in this case, as we were inadvertently running on Brazilian time). This time there was no stopping, so I was able to try and take the back after Howard got to his knees from my half guard pass attempt. I got in one hook, but totally failed to get the other one secure (Howard was able to easily just push it off his hip).

I had a relatively relaxed roll with a white belt after that, where I was sitting in the overhook from guard looking to do something. Eventually, I was able to pop my leg over the free arm, but had a brain freeze and somehow managed to try and fling the wrong leg behind the head, which was incredibly stupid of me. Clearly I was getting a bit too comfortable with that overhook, as I forgot I had it. D’oh.

Sparring finished up with Matty, where again I had a chance to do that step over the leg and go for half guard. I thought I was going to get flung straight off, but managed to keep my base, using a grip around the head and armpit and keeping a leg back. Or at least I did the first two times: third attempt, I found myself under side control, and then suddenly mount. I must have been lazy with getting my knee up, which is a fundamental error. Although I later managed to roll back to get on top in guard, Matty immediately reversed me: I need to make sure I settle my base when I sweep, or the momentum could work against me, like it did here.

I won’t be training again until 26th of this month, on Tuesday, as I’ll be down in Bristol with my girlfriend (along with a few other places: we’re visiting friends up in Lancashire, as my gf is the head bridesmaid for their wedding – or whatever the name for that is – so she has a dress fitting). Although it would be nice to check out Gracie Barra Bristol, I don’t think I’ll have a chance this time round, as classes start at 7pm on weekdays. My gf might be a little annoyed if I absconded to go get sat on by sweaty men. ;)

Tomorrow, I'll be putting up another piece from Chrissy on the women's jiu jitsu program she's been running. I'll also look to get something posted on here during the week off training. I'm most of the way through doing a book review, or I might be able to whip up some kind of article.

28/01/2010 - BJJ (Beginner)

Class #281

RGA High Wycombe, (BJJ), Matty Burn, High Wycombe, UK - 28/01/2010

Kev is away competing at the European Championships this weekend. I've seen that tournament getting a fair bit of criticism on forums, but nevertheless, it is still the most prestigious BJJ event easily reachable from the UK. Then again, the arguments about organisational problems and price seem fair enough, from what I've read.

Anyway, one of Kev's blue belts from Aylesbury took the class, Matt Burn (which come to think of it is a pretty cool name for a BJJ instructor). I'm not sure if Kev advised what he should teach, but Matt continued the side control theme from Tuesday, running through some important basics.

He kicked off with the usual way to transition from side control to mount, followed by the two fundamental escapes, to the knees and back to guard. I am used to swimming the arm through when going to the knees (though I still don't automatically go for that, much preferring guard recovery), but interestingly Matt also used that swim when recovering guard.

Sparring was naturally from side control, and again I had the chance to go with a white belt, though I'm not sure on his size. Either way, he was pretty new, so on top I was looking to try out some of the techniques from Tuesday, like the choke with the lapel. However, he grabbed my far arm, which stymied that particular technique. So instead, I went for scarf hold, and eventually moved into the step-over triangle.

When I went to attack the arm, it had already gone limp. For a moment I thought maybe I'd accidentally choked him out, but looking back, he was fine. What actually happened was that he gave up as soon as I got the triangle position. Shortly afterwards he tapped, saying there was nothing he could do. I was so surprised I didn't think to make the obvious response, which was "you should still try and escape, as you might be able to get free."

Then again, I can understand it would be annoying to be put into some random position by a blue belt when you haven't been training very long. The triangle wasn't an option with the other blue belt who was training, as I couldn't even keep him under control. I tried to switch to north-south, but he already had his knee in place and recovered guard.

Underneath the white belt, I wanted to see if I could play with armbars and triangles again, but he was a bit more savvy with his defence than the last white belt I rolled with. So instead, I just practiced escaping as normal. Again, no such luck with the blue belt, who was able to work through to mount after a bit of a struggle. He's a bit bigger, but that should serve to encourage me to be less passive: I'm still too complacent under side control, as I've gradually grown comfortable with just lying there and waiting for the opportunity to sneak my knee in. I keep saying it, but must bridge more!

I've got loads of books in the pipeline to review, as I received about five of them at Christmas. I normally send a list to my mum, so she can pick something from it, but this year, she got everything on the list. Which is kinda cool, so I'm certainly not complaining. Couple of DVDs to cover as well: about halfway through reviewing one of them. :)